Chapter 465 Chapter 465
Noah watched the car come through the gate. Right behind it was Blair’s truck. It was good he would be here too—he trusted him to keep things under control if it got messy. His heart was racing so fast in his chest that he could barely breathe. Spinning on his heel, he walked to the side of the house and stood there looking at the ground. For years all he wanted was to see his parents again and now they were here—a decade too late. How could he face them? They were going to ask about Carlene and to even think her name rendered him incapacitated, never mind explaining what happened to her. Movement beside him had him turn, ready to take down whatever was too close to him. Blair and Emersyn stood there.
Blair tilted his head, his open hands at his side like he was bracing himself. “Thought you could use a bit of support.” He said in a quiet tone.
Noah felt his animal roll through him, more annoyed by it being Blair and not something he could jump. He could feel the animal staying close to the surface, waiting.
“I’d ask if you’re good, but I can see you are not even close to it.” Blair looked over to where Emersyn was standing and motioned for her to stay there.
Noah scowled at him, “I wouldn’t hurt her.” It came in a guttural tone, closer to a beast than a human.
Blair gave him a shocked look, “I know. I just asked her to let me talk to you for a minute.” He stood straighter and put his hands on his hips, but Noah could still see that watchful look in his eye.
Noah nodded, afraid to speak again.
“I know circumstances are beyond anything I could understand,” Blair paused and watched him for a second, “but I would give anything just to see my parents one time.” He nodded his head and then looked over to the corner of the house. “Just one time.”
Noah hesitated, processed that. He’d forgotten what happened to Blair’s parents. Was he being rash about how he was feeling? It was his fault they were taken, he hadn’t listened and stayed within the boundaries set by his father. He swallowed down the bile rising in his throat. The least he could do was tell them what happened. He turned to see Ed and Gage standing there with four others. His family. He snapped his head back to look at Blair.
Blair may have looked like he was relaxed and all good with everything, but Noah’s cat could taste the Alpha vibes pouring off him. Did he even know he did such a thing? Could others sense it as he did?
“Just give them a few minutes,” Blair nodded, “and keep the scary one on the inside, that’s all I’m asking.”
Noah flicked his gaze from him to Emersyn and then back to him again.
“She wanted to be here with you.” Blair stepped back so she could come over.
Noah cleared his throat, trying to find his voice. His tongue felt like it was paralyzed. He was glad Blair knew enough to move away from her. Noah’s cat was feeling very proprietary right at this moment—because he needed to be dealing with that shit too right now.
Her steps were slow and hesitant. He inhaled and could smell the fear and anxiety pouring off her. Yet she was still coming toward him. “I would never hurt you.” He said in a low voice when she was in front of him.
“I know.” She reached slowly and put her hand on his clenched fist, “I’m not afraid of you,” she coaxed his fingers to open, actually pried them apart, “I’m afraid for you.”
Noah’s sight was bouncing back and forth between normal and cat vision, but he could still see her eyes clearly. In them, he saw fear, worry, and anxiety. She squeezed his hand and continued to look up at him. The muscles in Noah’s jaw pulsed with tension. “You don’t have to…”
“I want to.” She took a deep breath and then nodded. “I can’t even imagine what it will be like to see my family again.”
Noah swallowed and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, communicating with his cat that Emersyn was right beside them and he had to keep it under control. He focused on the warmth of her hand against his. He could feel it vibrating, but she still held it tight. Opening his eyes, he looked down at her and nodded. Inside his head, he was telling her thank you, but he couldn’t find the words. It was going to take a lot to get his legs to move, but he would try, for her.
When he turned to walk over, a young girl was walking toward him. The air exited his lungs all at once. She was around fourteen years old and was exactly how he’d pictured Carlene would look at that age. Her hair was the same strawberry blonde with those out-of-control waves in it. As she got closer, he saw Carlene’s eyes looking at him with much scrutiny.
“Steady.” He heard Blair say in a hushed voice.
He felt Emersyn lean closer to him and hug his arm while still holding his hand, but couldn’t look down at her—the ghost of his sister was walking across the lawn toward him. He saw Jake coming, running over behind her. Noah tensed, not wanting Jake to walk in front of her. He gasped and then remembered to take a breath.
“We were, ah,” Jake stopped beside Blair and didn’t move to come closer, “giving you a few minutes,” he looked at the girl, “but someone is in a hurry.”
Noah watched her stop and look at him, he expected to see the pain in her eyes, the look of betrayal because he let her be taken…
“So, you’re him, huh?” She said and then put her hands on her hips.
Noah blinked; it wasn’t Carlene.
“This is your sister, Tiana,” Jake said quickly.
“Tia,” she spat, giving him a side glance.
Noah’s knees felt weak. He had to focus on staying standing here. Emersyn moved her hand up and down his arm, drawing his attention to her for a second. She was looking up at him, her eyes reflecting encouragement and confidence. He couldn’t understand why she felt that toward him right now.
“Your Alpha, Ed, has been telling Mom and Dad all about how you’re some kind of vigilante hero now,” she crossed her arms over her chest and looked him up and down, “or some shit.” She cringed and looked over her shoulder to where the others still stood. “Don’t tell Mom I said shit—she has a fucking fit when I swear.”
Noah heard someone chuckle and knew it would be Jake without looking. This girl was the image of Carlene, but there was nothing sweet or innocent about her. “I didn’t know you even existed until recently.” He said and was surprised his voice sounded normal.
She snorted, “lucky you. We’ve lived every day knowing about you and our dying sister—Mom drags us to the doctor three times a year to get jabbed.”
Noah lowered his head, thinking maybe he hadn’t heard her right.
“So, is this your mate?”
She said it with such disdain his head popped back up to glare at her. His cat rolled under his skin. She wasn’t looking at her with a judgmental look though, so he was able to settle him down.
“Did you bite her?” She snarled, “that caveman crap.” She muttered, “I can tell you if some guy tries to put his teeth in me, I’ll be ripping them from his jaw and wearing them for a necklace.” She huffed out a breath.
Noah blinked and then looked to see Blair holding his hand over his mouth and Jake grinning.
“Uh, Tia,” Jake stepped closer, “I think you’d get along with Akira, really well.” He motioned to the backyard, “let’s go see what’s going on in the house and I’ll introduce you.”
Tia looked away from him and then to Jake, she lifted one shoulder. “Whatever.” She started walking toward the backyard.
Noah watched her walk away.
“I like her attitude,” Jake said quickly and jogged away.
His mind looped back to what she said. Our dying sister…
“Noah.”
He blinked and looked down at Emersyn. Her eyes were asking if he was okay. He nodded, even though he was so far from okay or any semblance of it.
“Do you need a minute?” Blair stepped in front of him.
Noah sucked in a breath, he squeezed Emersyn’s hand. Only she could understand what he was going through.
Blair looked over his shoulder. “The rest are coming over.” He said when he turned back.
Noah exhaled, then forced his body to work properly to inhale again. His back was soaked in sweat. He wanted to take his jacket off but didn’t want to let go of Emersyn’s hand to do it. The connection to her was the only thing keeping him standing here. If it weren’t for her, his cat would have won the tug of war to get out and he’d be running as fast as his paws could move right now.
Emersyn rubbed her hand up and down his arm, then flexed her hand in his.